Lakewood sits in Ocean County, New Jersey, a town built around the lake that gave it its name. Lake Carasaljo, a winding lake through the center of town, gives residents a waterfront for walks, fishing, and quiet mornings, and its wooded shores set the town's character. Georgian Court University, on a historic estate campus, brings students and cultural events to town, and the Pine Barrens, New Jersey's vast pinelands, begin nearby, offering trails and rare ecology. Lakewood grew as a resort and residential community, and its neighborhoods keep a close, family centered feel.